4 1. Introduction: Capacity meets flexibility with the NexStar LX from Vantec. Transforming any standard IDE hard drive into a NAS (Network Attached Storage) device, your files become easy to store and even easier to share. Now you can access movies, music, and photos from your entire network as well as from anywhere on the internet. With its USB port, the NexStar LX can also be used as a typical enclosure where a network is not available. No matter where you are, the NexStar LX will keep your data within reach. Introduction 2

7 4. Interface Information: NexStar LX External 3.5 HDD NAS Enclosure: Exhaust Fan Vent Micro Security Slot On/Off Switch Fan Settings LAN port to network Power Connector USB port to PC/Mac LAN Port Connect to your network using an ethernet patch cable. USB Port Connect to a computer directly using a USB cable. Fan Settings There are 3 modes available for you to select the desired cooling. Automatic (A) / Manual Low (M/L) / Manual High (M/H). We recommend you leave your unit on the Auto setting. When this mode is selected, the NexStar LX automatically adjusts the fan speed up and down as necessary to keep the hard drive cool. Smart power The NexStar LX will turn itself off when the computer is off. Therefore, it needs to be connected to a USB port in order to turn on. Interface Information 5

8 5. Installation: NexStar LX External 3.5 HDD NAS Enclosure: 5.1. Hardware Installation: Preparing the hard drive: 1) Set the hard drive jumpers to MASTER or SINGLE DRIVE ONLY. Please refer to the documentation included with your hard drive for information on how to accomplish this. Preparing the NexStar LX: 1) Remove the lid of the NexStar LX Installing the hard drive into the NexStar LX: 1) Connect the IDE and power cables to the drive. Make sure drive is jumpered to master or single. Parts Layout 6

9 2) Screw the hard drive into place. 3) Fold the cables so that they are flat against the drive. Position the thermal probe in front of the hard drive. When finished, attach lid. Installation 7

10 Connecting the NexStar LX to your computer via network: 1) If you have the USB cable connected, disconnect it. 2) Connect the power cable to the NexStar LX and plug the cable into an available outlet. 3) Connect the NexStar LX to the network using a straight through patch cable. 4) Turn on the NexStar LX via the power switch Logging in to the NexStar LX: 1) Windows ME/XP/2000 Open your browser and type STORAGE or if connected directly to your computer type If you have more than one device connected at the same time, type STORAGE-xxxx, whereas the xxxx stands for the last four digits of your Mac address as seen on the bottom of your device (example STORAGE-2343). Mac OS Open your Terminal and type nmblookup STORAGE, copy the corresponding IP address and paste it into your browser or if the LAN disk is connected directly to your computer, type into your browser. If you have more than one device connected at the same time, type nmblookup STORAGE-xxxx, whereas the xxxx stands for the last four digits of your Mac address as seen on the bottom of your device (example STORAGE-2343). 2) A pop-up dialog box will appear prompting you for your username and password. Default Settings: Username: admin Password: admin We strongly suggest you to change this, as soon as you are logged in, to prevent unauthorized access. If you forgot your personal login, press and hold the reset button, turn on the device and wait for ten seconds before releasing it. This will reset the device to its factory default setting. Installation 8

11 5.2. Status: System Information If desired, you may change any of the settings such as hostname, workgroup login password, time, and encoding (language). Network Information IP Address - The current IP address assigned to the NexStar LX DHCP Server - Enable or disable the enclosure s DHCP server. If you have another DHCP server on your network, for example a router, leave this option disabled. Disk Information Displays hard drive information. Installation 9

12 5.2. IP Config: Automatic IP If your network has a DHCP server such as a router, you can select Automatic IP and the NexStar LX will obtain its IP settings automatically. Static IP If your network does not have a DHCP server or you wish to specify IP settings manually, enter the information here. Installation 10

13 5.2. Maintenance: Firmware Upload To update the firmware on the NexStar LX, browse for the firmware file on your computer and click Upload. System Reboot Click the Reboot button to have the device perform a software restart. The SYSTEM LED will blink as the device restarts and then remain on if the restart is successful. Please wait about a minute before refreshing your browser before logging in again. Factory Defaults Click the Reset button to clear all configuration information and restore default settings. Please click the Reboot button after resetting the unit. Installation 11

14 5.2. SMB Server: Folder List The directories on your hard drive are displayed here. You can create, rename, and delete folders. Folders only on this side are not visible on the network. Sharing List The shared directories of your hard drive are displayed here. These directories are visible on the network. If you wish, passwords can be assigned to directories to establish privileged access. Password protected folders will be indicated with a *. To make a folder visible on the network, select it in the Folder List and click the Right Arrow. The folder should now appear in the Sharing List. To un-share a folder, select it in the Sharing List and click the Left Arrow. the folder should be removed from the Shaing List. Installation 12

15 5.2. FTP Server: FTP Status Enable or disable the FTP Server and specify the port for the FTP server to use. Click Apply to save changes NOTE: If you are behind a firewall or router, you may need to configure the firewall to forward this port to the NexStar LX. Allow anonymous Anonymous users are those without FTP accounts and do not need usernames or passwords to log in. Select Enable or Disable to allow anonymous users access to your FTP Server. If you choose to allow anonymous users, the following restrictions can be applied: Read Only: Anonymous users may view or download files but may not change, upload, or delete files. Read/Write: Anonymous users may view, change, or delete files. Home Directory: The directory anonymous users have access to. NOTE: If the anonymous user s home directory is set to a shared folder with password access, the access will be overwritten and the folder can be viewed without further login. Installation 13

16 5.2. FTP Server (continued): Account List Add - Create a new FTP account. Modify - Change an existing FTP account. An account must first be selected from the list En/Disable - Enable or Disable an FTP account Delete - Delete an FTP account. When you add or modify an FTP account, you will be presented this screen: Here you can specify the account s password and Read/Write access. The Folder List and Sharing List work the same way as the SMB Server in that only directories in the Sharing List will be visible to the account. Installation 14

17 5.2. Disk Utility: Format Disk When you format the drive using the disk utility, it will create a single partition using the FAT32 file system. If you create other partitions when connected through USB or choose a different file system, keep in mind that the LAN disk is only able to recognize the first partition and it has to be FAT32. If you don t use the disk utility to format the drive, make sure that you choose the FAT32 file system, otherwise it won t be recognized on the network. Formatting the disk will erase all your data on the hard drive. Make sure to backup you files BEFORE you click on Format! Sleep Time Specify the number of minutes of idle time before the NexStar LX goes into standby mode. Scan Disk Scans the disk for errors. Depending on the size of the disk, this may take several minutes. Installation 15

18 5.2. File Access: File Access on a PC There are several ways to access the NexStar LX over the network: Use Windows Explorer and type \\ followed by the host name of the NexStar LX. Example: \\storage Use Windows Explorer and type \\ followed by the IP address of the NexStar LX Example: \\ Map as a network drive. Click on Tools, choose Map Network Drive and follow the wizard. Browse for the NexStar LX in the appropriate workgroup. Your folder path will look something like \\storage\public. If a directory is password protected, you will be prompted for a password before access is given. File Access on a Mac Click on Go and choose Network. Browse for the NexStar LX STORAGE-xxxx, which by default can be found in the WORKGROUP folder. Alternatively, select Go and choose Connect to Server. Type smb://storage or the more detailed smb://storage-xxxx, whereas the xxxx stands for the last four digits of the LAN disk Mac address. When you connect to it, you will be asked to choose a folder and after entering the login, you can then access the NexStar LX. Installation 16

19 Mac OS 9.0 or later: 1) No drivers are necessary when using Mac OS 9.0 or later. If the hard drive does not appear on the desktop, be sure to partition your hard drive. Mac OS 8.6: 1) Unplug the NexStar LX if you currently have it connected. 2) USB Mass Storage Support must be installed on your system. If it is not, you can download the USB Mass Storage Support from the Apple Software Updates website: 3) Follow the direction associated with the USB Mass Storage Support driver to install 4) Repeat the steps listed under Connecting the NexStar LX to your computer. Installation 17

20 6. Disconnecting the NexStar LX: NexStar LX External 3.5 HDD NASEnclosure: Warning: NEVER remove the NexStar LX while the hard drive is in use. Doing so may corrupt the data on the hard drive or damage the hard drive, NexStar LX, or computer. Windows 98SE/ME/XP/2000: 1) Make sure all operations using the hard drive within the NexStar LX has ceased. 2) Close any windows and programs pertaining to the NexStar LX. 3) If connected by USB, double click the green Unplug or Eject Hardware icon in the system tray and select [Safely Remove Hardware]. Select the device you wish to remove and click on [Stop]. The system should prompt, It is now safe to remove the USB device. If not, wait for any programs still using the device to finish and try again. 4) Turn off the NexStar LX. 5) Unplug the USB cable from the system. Mac OS: 1) Make sure all operations using the hard drive within the NexStar LX has ceased. 2) Close any windows and programs pertaining to the NexStar GX. 3) From the Desktop, drag the NexStar LX hard drive to the trash. 4) Turn off the NexStar LX. 5) Unplug the USB cable from the system. Disconnecting the NexStar GX 18

21 7. Creating A New Partition: Note: Most hard drives should come with a CD that includes its installation program. If not, a download should be available on the manufacturers website. The best way to partition a new hard drive is by using the manufacturers program. However, if that is not possible, please try the following instead (if using Mac OS 9 or below, please refer to your hard drive documentation for information on formatting/partitioning the hard drive): Warning: Doing the following will erase any existing data on the drive. If the drive is damaged and you wish to recover the data, continuing may overwrite the existing information! Windows 98SE/ME: 1) You will need to use the FDISK utility that is included under MS-DOS. Please refer to Microsoft Knowledge Base Article for complete instructions on how to use FDISK. (http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q255/8/67.asp) 2) Once complete, you should now be able to see the drive in Windows Explorer. Windows XP/2000: 1) Right click on "My Computer" and choose Manage. 2) Under Storage on the LEFT pane, select Disk Management 3) Windows should now give you the option to initialize the disk. If not, locate the new drive, right click on the new disk (where it reads "Disk #") and choose Initialize. (This step may not be required for some hard drives.) 4) Go through the wizard. 5) Once complete, locate your hard drive in the bottom right pane. Right click on the area with a status bar (to the right of the Disk # area) and choose New Partition. 6) Follow the directions of the wizard. The recommended partition type is primary and the recommended file system is FAT32. Please note that Windows XP/2000 limits FAT32 partitions to only 32GB. Also, Windows 98 is not capable of reading the NTFS file system. Warning: The drive has to be formatted using the FAT32 file system if it is to be used on a network. If NTFS is used, the drive will only be recognized when connected by USB. To create larger partitions, you will need to use the FDISK command under Win98SE or WinME, use 3rd party software, or format the drive using the enclosure s user interace. If you create multiple partitions, only the first partition will be recognized over the network. Creating a New Partition 19

22 Mac OS X 10.x.x: Initializing a Hard Drive: If you are using a new hard drive, you may need to initialize it first. You can initialize your internal hard drive using a program called Drive Setup, which is on the Mac OS CD that came with your computer. 1. Start up your computer from the Mac OS CD. 2. Locate the Utilities folder on the Mac OS CD and double-click it to open the folder. 3. Double-click the Drive Setup icon to open the program. 4. In the list of drives, select the drive you want to initialize. 5. Click Initialize. To format your hard drive with Mac OS Extended format, a method of formatting hard drives that allows for more efficient use of hard drive storage space, follow the steps below: 1. Click Custom Setup. 2. Select the desired partitioning scheme. 3. Open the Type pop-up menu in the Volume Info area and choose Mac OS Extended Format. 4. Resize the volumes if desired. 5. When ready, click OK. 6. Click Initialize. If initialization fails, do the following: 1. Choose Initialization Options from the Functions menu. 2. Click the checkbox next to "Low level format", then click OK. Choosing this option adds significant time to the initialization process. Creating a New Partition 20

23 Mac OS X 10.x.x: Formatting a Hard Drive: 1. Start the Disk Utility tool (under Applications) 2. Select the new hard drive you are trying to install 3. Click on the Erase tab 4. Choose a volume format and assign a name to the new drive. 5. Click on Erase. 6. Once complete, your new hard drive should be mounted on your desktop. Note: If the hard drive will not mount on your system, format the drive with a FAT32 or NTFS partition first through a PC system. Once formatted, connect the NexStar Enclosure to your Mac and run the Disk Utility tool again. You should now be able to format the drive into a Mac partition and mount the drive Creating a New Partition 21

24 8. Troubleshooting/FAQ: NexStar LX External 3.5 HDD Enclosure: Q. What should the jumper settings on my hard drive be set to? A. We recommend the hard drive be set to MASTER. Q. My computer recognizes the NexStar LX, but it does not assign a drive letter to it. A. You are probably using a brand new hard drive. If not, then your computer may not be able to recognize the partition on the hard drive because it is damaged or not a valid format. Please refer to the section Creating A New Partition for information on how to create a useable partition on your drive. Q. My computer sometimes recognizes the NexStar LX, but sometimes gives me errors. A. If your computer is giving you problems with the NexStar 3, be sure to connect the USB cable to a rear port, directly off the motherboard or USB PCI card. The cables connecting front USB ports are not always properly shielded and cannot properly handle USB 2.0 speeds, thereby corrupting the signal between the NexStar LX and the computer. Q. Why is the data on my hard drive corrupted? A. Connecting your hard drive to the NexStar LX is just like connecting a hard drive to the inside of your computer. The NexStar LX itself will not corrupt your data. If your data has become corrupt, it is likely caused by the removal of the NexStar 3 while data was still being written to the hard drive. CAUTION: Never remove the NexStar 3 while data is being written to the hard drive! Doing so may cause the hard drive to become corrupt. Make sure all applications being run off the disk and all files in use are no longer in use before removing the unit. Q. Why is my computer not showing the full size of my hard drive? A. If you are using Windows 98SE, please refer to Microsoft s Windows 98 Support Center and download the large capacity drive patch. Else, verify that your motherboard supports large capacity drives. Some older motherboards cannot use drives larger than 137 GB. If Windows XP/2000 will not let you create a partition larger than 32GB, make sure you are using the NTFS file system, as Windows XP/2000 limits FAT32 partitions to only 32GB. Otherwise, check your hard drive jumper settings. Most hard drives feature a setting that limits the size of the drive for compatibility reasons. Make sure you have not set the hard drive to this setting. Also, try setting your drive setting to Cable Select. Troubleshooting/FAQ 22

25 Q. Why can t Windows 98SE read my hard drive? It works with Windows XP/2000. A. Windows 98SE cannot recognize the NTFS file system. If you wish to use the device with Windows XP/2000 and Windows 98SE, you need to format the drive as FAT32. Q. Why can t I copy files larger than 4GB onto my NexStar LX? A. You have probably formatted the hard drive in the FAT32 file system. FAT32 limits the file sizes to 4GB maximum. The NTFS file system does not have this limitation. Troubleshooting/FAQ 23

26 9. Warranty: The NexStar LX comes with a 1 year limited warranty (90 day parts). If your unit should become defective within that time frame, please go to for information on how to receive warranty exchange or repair. Cosmetic defects and missing parts are not covered under this warranty. Please check the contents of the unit to make sure you received all parts. Also, check for any cosmetic flaws. If any parts are missing or if there are cosmetic defects, please contact the retailer from which you purchased the unit immediately and ask for a replacement. 10. Contact: Vantec Thermal Technologies Boscell Rd. Fremont, CA tel: fax: website: Copyright 2006 Vantec Thermal Technologies. All Rights Reserved. All Registered Trademarks Belong To Their Respected Companies. Warranty/Contact 24

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